Wayne’s two cents worth
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
[ Various Laws ] If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, 23 you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.
As far as they were concerned, He was a threat. He was a serious threat. Just a few short days earlier, thousands had followed Him into Jerusalem, declaring His majesty, rejoicing in His triumphal entry. Each day He remained, He remained a threat to their ‘religious system’, their livelihood. He had to be dealt with…permanently. But why crucify Him? Why not just stone Him? After all, they were accusing Him of blasphemy, were they not? There was no graver sin against God. What they were accusing Him of was the pinnacle rebellion. Worthy of death, why not simply stone Him, as they intended to stone the woman caught in adultery.
In their minds, stoning was sufficient. It would only accomplish their immediate purpose; ridding themselves of Jesus, but what of His followers? There were thousands of them, from near and far. Many had come from great distances to see Jesus. No, stoning wouldn’t stop a movement, but crucifixion would. It was imperative that they not only stop Him, but that they stop; absolutely stop the movement that He began. Crucifixion served that purpose. According to Scripture, anyone hung on a pole was accursed of God. Surely if He were crucified, it would demonstrate that God of Heaven had deemed Him accursed. That would destroy the movement. His followers would have to resign themselves to their authority, lest they too fall under the ‘curse’ of God.
Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
We can rejoice in the fact that ‘God is in control’. No matter how dire the circumstances, God is in control. Truly Jesus was hung on a cross, and in so doing, became accursed….for us. By allowing Himself to endure the shame of the cross, he redeemed us from sin and took away our shame. That was God’s intent all along: to make a way where there was none. On this dark evening in Pilate’s courtyard, the die was cast in Eternity. In spite of the lies, the scheming, the manipulation, God’s will was about to be accomplished. That’s good news beloved. If God be for you, who can be against you? This may sound odd, but Jesus left Pilate’s courtyard that evening in victory. From this meeting, He was on a direct path to the cross and to the joy that His Father had set before him before the beginning of time.
John 18:33
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Surely Pilate was familiar with the Jewish prophecies concerning a ‘Messiah’. He had to be. It was his job. So tonight it was his job to determine whether or not Jesus presented a threat to his authority and to Rome’s. Was he the king of the Jews? It’s interesting that after a brief exchange of words with Christ, Pilate exclaims that indeed; Jesus is a king. That’s remarkable. What ever there is about Jesus’ bearing and demeanor, Pilate recognizes him as someone of authority, much as the centurion had (Matt. 8). In one brief moment Pilate acknowledges Jesus as a King, a ruler and he takes Christ at his word that he has no intent of overthrowing roman governance.. I would argue that what Pilate beheld in Christ was absolute Purity; purity of character, heart and purpose. Pilate found himself standing in the presence of someone who was at perfect peace, or rather, someone who exemplified the very meaning of peace. Peace. It’s why Jesus’ next words are so important:
John 18:37b
... Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
This is where the rubber met the road…for Pilate. Each of us experiences a certain truth based on our circumstances and understanding. Pilate’s truth was different from the Pharisee’s truth, which was different from the truth of the common Jewish citizen of that day. There is Truth that is higher that any other. Jesus is that Truth. To know Him as Savior is to know no greater Love. To acknowledge Him as Lord is to know no greater Truth. Pilate suddenly found himself questioning his own understanding truth. That’s how it works for everyone to whom the Holy Spirit presents the Gospel; the Truth. As it turns out, the words trust, true, and truth are related and they are related… related to the word …. Faith. When you find something to be true, you put your faith in it, you trust it. When challenged by a greater truth, you must exchange the truth you previously trusted for that which is greater. The alternative is to settle for something less than the greater truth you’ve been offered. Beloved, in Christ we are presented with ultimate Truth, are you willing to forego all that you’ve know before to accept what He offers? Paul’s words below perfectly express how we ought to choose. Selah: (Pause, think, meditate on this!)
.wb
Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
[ Various Laws ] If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, 23 you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.
As far as they were concerned, He was a threat. He was a serious threat. Just a few short days earlier, thousands had followed Him into Jerusalem, declaring His majesty, rejoicing in His triumphal entry. Each day He remained, He remained a threat to their ‘religious system’, their livelihood. He had to be dealt with…permanently. But why crucify Him? Why not just stone Him? After all, they were accusing Him of blasphemy, were they not? There was no graver sin against God. What they were accusing Him of was the pinnacle rebellion. Worthy of death, why not simply stone Him, as they intended to stone the woman caught in adultery.
In their minds, stoning was sufficient. It would only accomplish their immediate purpose; ridding themselves of Jesus, but what of His followers? There were thousands of them, from near and far. Many had come from great distances to see Jesus. No, stoning wouldn’t stop a movement, but crucifixion would. It was imperative that they not only stop Him, but that they stop; absolutely stop the movement that He began. Crucifixion served that purpose. According to Scripture, anyone hung on a pole was accursed of God. Surely if He were crucified, it would demonstrate that God of Heaven had deemed Him accursed. That would destroy the movement. His followers would have to resign themselves to their authority, lest they too fall under the ‘curse’ of God.
Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
We can rejoice in the fact that ‘God is in control’. No matter how dire the circumstances, God is in control. Truly Jesus was hung on a cross, and in so doing, became accursed….for us. By allowing Himself to endure the shame of the cross, he redeemed us from sin and took away our shame. That was God’s intent all along: to make a way where there was none. On this dark evening in Pilate’s courtyard, the die was cast in Eternity. In spite of the lies, the scheming, the manipulation, God’s will was about to be accomplished. That’s good news beloved. If God be for you, who can be against you? This may sound odd, but Jesus left Pilate’s courtyard that evening in victory. From this meeting, He was on a direct path to the cross and to the joy that His Father had set before him before the beginning of time.
John 18:33
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Surely Pilate was familiar with the Jewish prophecies concerning a ‘Messiah’. He had to be. It was his job. So tonight it was his job to determine whether or not Jesus presented a threat to his authority and to Rome’s. Was he the king of the Jews? It’s interesting that after a brief exchange of words with Christ, Pilate exclaims that indeed; Jesus is a king. That’s remarkable. What ever there is about Jesus’ bearing and demeanor, Pilate recognizes him as someone of authority, much as the centurion had (Matt. 8). In one brief moment Pilate acknowledges Jesus as a King, a ruler and he takes Christ at his word that he has no intent of overthrowing roman governance.. I would argue that what Pilate beheld in Christ was absolute Purity; purity of character, heart and purpose. Pilate found himself standing in the presence of someone who was at perfect peace, or rather, someone who exemplified the very meaning of peace. Peace. It’s why Jesus’ next words are so important:
John 18:37b
... Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
This is where the rubber met the road…for Pilate. Each of us experiences a certain truth based on our circumstances and understanding. Pilate’s truth was different from the Pharisee’s truth, which was different from the truth of the common Jewish citizen of that day. There is Truth that is higher that any other. Jesus is that Truth. To know Him as Savior is to know no greater Love. To acknowledge Him as Lord is to know no greater Truth. Pilate suddenly found himself questioning his own understanding truth. That’s how it works for everyone to whom the Holy Spirit presents the Gospel; the Truth. As it turns out, the words trust, true, and truth are related and they are related… related to the word …. Faith. When you find something to be true, you put your faith in it, you trust it. When challenged by a greater truth, you must exchange the truth you previously trusted for that which is greater. The alternative is to settle for something less than the greater truth you’ve been offered. Beloved, in Christ we are presented with ultimate Truth, are you willing to forego all that you’ve know before to accept what He offers? Paul’s words below perfectly express how we ought to choose. Selah: (Pause, think, meditate on this!)
.wb
Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
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